Wildfires risk in Pennsylvania

Wildfire risk in Pennsylvania: what makes the Keystone State different

More than half of Pennsylvania is forested, from the Pocono Plateau in the northeast to the Allegheny Plateau and the Ridge and Valley province running southwest. Most residents live within a short distance of wildland fuels. Even so, wildfire here looks very different from the large fires of the West. HomeRiskMap rates Pennsylvania 1 out of 5 for wildfire risk, a low national ranking, because humid summers, hardwood forests and relatively short dry windows keep most fires small and short-lived.

Small does not mean harmless. Hundreds of wildfires occur in Pennsylvania in a typical year, most of them human-caused and most contained quickly. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency coordinates statewide response and public warnings when a fire threatens communities, while local volunteer fire companies handle the vast majority of brush and grass fires.

When fire season peaks. Pennsylvania's danger comes mainly from fine fuels — dead grass, fallen leaves and pine needles — rather than from prolonged drought. There are two peaks: spring (roughly March through May), when last year's leaves and grass are still on the ground and the canopy has not yet leafed out, and fall (typically October and November), after leaf drop and before snow. On a warm, dry, breezy day in those windows, fine fuels can dry out within hours.

Where risk is highest:

• Northern tier and Pocono counties, where large forest blocks meet growing numbers of rural homes, cabins and subdivisions.
• Scrub oak and pitch pine barrens on sandy, droughty soils, where low, volatile vegetation can carry fire quickly.
• Ridgetops and south-facing slopes in the Ridge and Valley and Allegheny Plateau, where sun and wind dry fuels first and fire runs uphill.
• Roadsides, rail lines and rural areas with active debris burning — a leading cause of Pennsylvania wildfires.

Because most Pennsylvania forest is privately owned and intermingled with homes, the wildland-urban interface matters here: a brush fire started in a backyard burn barrel or along a driveway can threaten a house within minutes.

How it affects homes

Most wildfire damage to Pennsylvania homes comes from small fires that spread out of nearby brush, fields or wooded lots, not from a wall of flame crossing the county. Common pathways include:

• Embers and radiant heat igniting dry leaves in gutters, on roofs, under decks and in foundation plantings.
• Flammable attachments — wood decks, porches, fences, firewood stacked against the house and propane tanks.
• Outbuildings and vehicles lost to a fast-moving grass fire before fire apparatus arrives.
• Smoke and ash worsening air quality, especially for people with asthma, COPD or heart conditions.
• Post-fire erosion on steep slopes once vegetation that held the soil is gone, affecting foundations, driveways and wells.

Much of rural Pennsylvania relies on volunteer fire companies, so response times can be long and water supplies limited. That makes homeowner preparation unusually important — the steps you take in your own yard can be the difference between a scorched lawn and a lost structure.

Insurance considerations. Fire is a core covered peril on standard homeowners policies, and that generally includes wildfire; unlike flood, there is no separate wildfire policy to buy. Still, homeowners should confirm that dwelling and other-structures limits reflect local rebuilding costs, ask how trees, shrubs and landscaping are covered (outdoor plants are often capped), and keep a photo or video home inventory stored in the cloud. After a serious regional fire, insurers may also reassess rates and renewals in affected areas.

How to prepare your home

Defensible space is the most effective step a homeowner can take. In Pennsylvania's humid climate, a maintained yard of mowed grass and raked leaves is often enough to stop a small fire — but it has to be kept up, especially in spring and fall.

1. Start with the first five feet. Clear leaves, needles, mulch and dead vegetation from against the foundation and under decks and porches, and use gravel or stone instead of bark mulch next to the house.
2. Clean the roof and gutters. Remove leaves and needles from the roof, valleys and gutters at least twice a year and after storms. One ember in a full gutter can ignite a roof edge.
3. Trim and space plants. Remove branches overhanging the roof or within about 10 feet of the chimney, and thin shrubs so fuel does not run continuously from the woods to the house.
4. Move burnables away. Store firewood, lumber and fuel cans well away from the house, and never on or under a deck.
5. Screen openings. Cover vents, soffits, attic openings and chimney caps with 1/8-inch metal mesh, and keep window and door screens in good repair.
6. Keep access clear. Maintain a driveway wide enough for fire apparatus, keep your address visible from the road, and prune branches back from the driveway.
7. Burn responsibly. Debris burning is a leading cause of Pennsylvania wildfires. Check local permit rules and state burn bans first, never burn on dry or windy days, never leave a fire unattended, and keep water and a shovel nearby. Composting or chipping brush is safer.
8. Reach the small stuff. Keep a hose that reaches the whole yard, know your water source, and choose Class A fire-rated roofing or siding when it is time to replace them.
9. Plan to evacuate. Prepare a go-bag, plan for pets and livestock, identify two routes out, and sign up for local alerts. Follow Ready.gov's wildfire guidance for before, during and after a fire.

Frequently asked questions

Are wildfires actually a problem in Pennsylvania?

Yes, though on a much smaller scale than in the western states. Pennsylvania's forests cover well over half the state, and hundreds of wildfires occur here in a typical year — most of them small, human-caused brush and grass fires. Because the state rates low nationally for wildfire (1 out of 5 on HomeRiskMap), the practical concern for most homeowners is a localized fire starting nearby, not a landscape-scale megafire.

When is wildfire season in Pennsylvania?

Wildfire danger peaks twice: in spring, roughly March through May, when dead grass and leaves from the previous year are still on the ground and trees have not yet leafed out, and again in fall, typically October and November, after leaves drop and before snow cover. On warm, dry, windy days in those windows, fine fuels can dry out within hours and fires can spread quickly.

Does homeowners insurance cover wildfire damage in Pennsylvania?

Standard homeowners insurance generally covers fire damage, including damage from a wildfire, because fire is a covered peril on virtually all policies. Coverage for trees, shrubs and landscaping is usually limited, so review your limits with your agent and keep a current home inventory. If you live in a wooded area, ask your insurer about its wildfire underwriting practices before a fire, not after.

Official resources

• Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) — statewide preparedness, response and recovery information.
• Ready.gov — Wildfires — federal guidance on preparing for, staying safe during, and recovering from wildfires.
• National Interagency Fire Center — national wildland fire statistics, outlooks and coordination.
• US Forest Service — Fire — fire management, fuels reduction and community wildfire protection.